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Between Sun and Shadow
Not yet published
Expected 5 May 26Hades and Persephone reimagined on a tidally locked planet, for fans of queer romance, mutant superpowers, eccentric robots, and speculative tech!
Sixteen-year-old Kori struggles to be a dutiful heiress to the Daylands, a post-cataclysmic society reliant on chip implants to retain memory. With a strict routine and an overly cautious mother, Kori has only one friend, Aspect—an industrial robot she’s repurposed. Determined to awaken sentience in her metal companion, Kori crash-lands in enemy territory while hunting for a memory that might do the trick.
Ravaged by radiation from a meteorite, the citizens of the Shadowlands have evolved into beast-like creatures with supernatural abilities. Adria, a winged mutant, has wrested control of the Shadowlands from her bloodthirsty parents—but not everyone is so willing to embrace her leadership. What better way to instill confidence in her court than by capturing a foreign princess and demanding ransom?
However, what began as a political maneuver transforms into a potent attraction as Kori’s longing for relationship echoes Adria’s own. Granted free rein of Adria’s fortress, Kori stumbles upon a startling revelation that could upend the Daylands entirely. As rebellion grows and Adria’s precarious hold on her throne wavers, Adria and Kori must join forces to avert all-out war. Does a queen of shadows really stand a chance with a princess of sunlight? Or has the chasm between their nations grown too wide?
A science fantasy "Beauty and the Beast," this action-packed adventure is written in dual point of view and layered with a charming robot, a cuddly three-headed dog, mind-bending twists, and sapphic yearning.
Sixteen-year-old Kori struggles to be a dutiful heiress to the Daylands, a post-cataclysmic society reliant on chip implants to retain memory. With a strict routine and an overly cautious mother, Kori has only one friend, Aspect—an industrial robot she’s repurposed. Determined to awaken sentience in her metal companion, Kori crash-lands in enemy territory while hunting for a memory that might do the trick.
Ravaged by radiation from a meteorite, the citizens of the Shadowlands have evolved into beast-like creatures with supernatural abilities. Adria, a winged mutant, has wrested control of the Shadowlands from her bloodthirsty parents—but not everyone is so willing to embrace her leadership. What better way to instill confidence in her court than by capturing a foreign princess and demanding ransom?
However, what began as a political maneuver transforms into a potent attraction as Kori’s longing for relationship echoes Adria’s own. Granted free rein of Adria’s fortress, Kori stumbles upon a startling revelation that could upend the Daylands entirely. As rebellion grows and Adria’s precarious hold on her throne wavers, Adria and Kori must join forces to avert all-out war. Does a queen of shadows really stand a chance with a princess of sunlight? Or has the chasm between their nations grown too wide?
A science fantasy "Beauty and the Beast," this action-packed adventure is written in dual point of view and layered with a charming robot, a cuddly three-headed dog, mind-bending twists, and sapphic yearning.
Audible Audio
Expected publication May 5, 2026
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407 people want to read
About the author
Laura Genn
1 book10 followersLaura Genn writes about queer teens confronting fantastical challenges. She graduated with a BS in strategic communication and enjoys building with LEGO® bricks, having TV marathons, and playing competitive Street Fighter. She lives with her girlfriend and three goofy rescue cats somewhere in New Jersey, surrounded by an ever-growing collection of dragon tchotchkes. Follow her on Instagram and Threads @lauragennauthor.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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February 11, 2026This sounds SO GOOD.
January 10, 2026
A big thanks to YABC for providing a physical ARC, and NetGalley and Edelweiss for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
"A science fantasy "Beauty and the Beast," this action-packed adventure is written in dual point of view and layered with a charming robot, a cuddly three-headed dog, mind-bending twists, and sapphic yearning." I can't have better described this book, than this.
Between Sun and Shadow by Laura Genn is a YA science fantasy novel that gives Gideon the Ninth, with Hades and Persephone coded characters and robots instead of necromancers. Hades and Persephone reimagined on a tidally locked planet, for fans of queer romance, mutant superpowers, eccentric robots, and speculative tech—featuring fun and stylish case art beneath the hardcover dust jacket! Sixteen-year-old Kori struggles to be a dutiful heiress to the Daylands, a post-cataclysmic society reliant on chip implants to retain memory. With a strict routine and an overly cautious mother, Kori has only one friend, Aspect—an industrial robot she’s repurposed. Determined to awaken sentience in her metal companion, Kori crash-lands in enemy territory while hunting for a memory that might do the trick. Ravaged by radiation from a meteorite, the citizens of the Shadowlands have evolved into beast-like creatures with supernatural abilities. Adria, a winged mutant, has wrested control of the Shadowlands from her bloodthirsty parents—but not everyone is so willing to embrace her leadership. What better way to instill confidence in her court than by capturing a foreign princess and demanding ransom? However, what began as a political maneuver transforms into a potent attraction as Kori’s longing for relationship echoes Adria’s own. Granted free rein of Adria’s fortress, Kori stumbles upon a startling revelation that could upend the Daylands entirely. As rebellion grows and Adria’s precarious hold on her throne wavers, Adria and Kori must join forces to avert all-out war. Does a queen of shadows really stand a chance with a princess of sunlight? Or has the chasm between their nations grown too wide? A science fantasy "Beauty and the Beast," this action-packed adventure is written in dual point of view and layered with a charming robot, a cuddly three-headed dog, mind-bending twists, and sapphic yearning.
Between Sun and Shadow is one those books that best read without any initial context. Much like Tamsyn Muir's The Locked Tomb series, which this book reminded quite a lot of. Regardless, I really liked this book as it provided a breath of fresh air in terms of its romance and plot and unique worldbuilding. As I get older, I find most of the YA genre is filled with the same old story and character, rehashed time and time again. But Between Sun and Shadow is one that provides it's audience both a familiar story with it's ties to Hades and Persephone, and a novel one with its colorful cast of characters.
One thing that I didn't quite like about Between Sun and Shadow, is the general chaos that radiates from the plot. In that it was hard to keep up at some points, and at other times make it out to be quite unreliable. But this was not a major fault of the book, but more so mine. As it's quite hard to wrap my mind around novels that present items from different genres, ie. monstrous beasts that resemble Cerberus and robot companions.
Regardless, Between Sun and Shadow is a novel designed to be fun and engaging with twists and turns that most readers won't expect. While also being a familiar narrative and a novel one. I recommend it to anyone looking for something to fill the void of having to wait for Alecto the Ninth's eventual release.
"A science fantasy "Beauty and the Beast," this action-packed adventure is written in dual point of view and layered with a charming robot, a cuddly three-headed dog, mind-bending twists, and sapphic yearning." I can't have better described this book, than this.
Between Sun and Shadow by Laura Genn is a YA science fantasy novel that gives Gideon the Ninth, with Hades and Persephone coded characters and robots instead of necromancers. Hades and Persephone reimagined on a tidally locked planet, for fans of queer romance, mutant superpowers, eccentric robots, and speculative tech—featuring fun and stylish case art beneath the hardcover dust jacket! Sixteen-year-old Kori struggles to be a dutiful heiress to the Daylands, a post-cataclysmic society reliant on chip implants to retain memory. With a strict routine and an overly cautious mother, Kori has only one friend, Aspect—an industrial robot she’s repurposed. Determined to awaken sentience in her metal companion, Kori crash-lands in enemy territory while hunting for a memory that might do the trick. Ravaged by radiation from a meteorite, the citizens of the Shadowlands have evolved into beast-like creatures with supernatural abilities. Adria, a winged mutant, has wrested control of the Shadowlands from her bloodthirsty parents—but not everyone is so willing to embrace her leadership. What better way to instill confidence in her court than by capturing a foreign princess and demanding ransom? However, what began as a political maneuver transforms into a potent attraction as Kori’s longing for relationship echoes Adria’s own. Granted free rein of Adria’s fortress, Kori stumbles upon a startling revelation that could upend the Daylands entirely. As rebellion grows and Adria’s precarious hold on her throne wavers, Adria and Kori must join forces to avert all-out war. Does a queen of shadows really stand a chance with a princess of sunlight? Or has the chasm between their nations grown too wide? A science fantasy "Beauty and the Beast," this action-packed adventure is written in dual point of view and layered with a charming robot, a cuddly three-headed dog, mind-bending twists, and sapphic yearning.
Between Sun and Shadow is one those books that best read without any initial context. Much like Tamsyn Muir's The Locked Tomb series, which this book reminded quite a lot of. Regardless, I really liked this book as it provided a breath of fresh air in terms of its romance and plot and unique worldbuilding. As I get older, I find most of the YA genre is filled with the same old story and character, rehashed time and time again. But Between Sun and Shadow is one that provides it's audience both a familiar story with it's ties to Hades and Persephone, and a novel one with its colorful cast of characters.
One thing that I didn't quite like about Between Sun and Shadow, is the general chaos that radiates from the plot. In that it was hard to keep up at some points, and at other times make it out to be quite unreliable. But this was not a major fault of the book, but more so mine. As it's quite hard to wrap my mind around novels that present items from different genres, ie. monstrous beasts that resemble Cerberus and robot companions.
Regardless, Between Sun and Shadow is a novel designed to be fun and engaging with twists and turns that most readers won't expect. While also being a familiar narrative and a novel one. I recommend it to anyone looking for something to fill the void of having to wait for Alecto the Ninth's eventual release.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Thank you, Edelweiss, for allowing me to get advance access to this title.
I want to begin with the fact that I prefer Fantasy over Science Fiction any day of the week. Give me dragons and fairies over robots and the infinity of space. However, the author skillfully blended the two genres in such a way that I think it needs to be its own separate genre. That said, anyone who may have misgivings for that reason, you ought to put them aside now.
The first thing that jumped out at me was the alternating POV, which can make or break a novel. In this case, it was a huge win, because it was an asset in character development, as well as a vehicle for generating suspense. The back and forth between Kori and Adria built anticipation while I tried to figure out how their worlds would end up colliding.
Once the young royals finally met, the story was action-packed with all the excitement I could hope for. Their relationship developed subtly and believably, and included the nuances of their best friends...along with plenty of humor. I will say that about two-thirds of the way through, I began to panic because I could not fathom how the story could fully play out in a single volume. But never fear, for those of you who are afraid of cliffhangers, you are safe!
Nonetheless, Kori and Adria's relationship is far from the major plot point of this story. I found myself mesmerized by Pagonian history and politics. In reality, I could happily enter the Shadowlands' library, and devour all the non-fiction volumes outlining the natural and societal evolution of the planet. In fact, I would be remiss to say that there is still so much unknown in about this world, that the author could continue to tell stories here. I cannot stress enough how unique the setting and characters were.
Overall, I adored this book. It hit all the important targets that I aim to enjoy when I read fiction: action, fantasy, unique world, and quirky relationships. I highly recommend this book, and cannot wait for everyone to be able to read it!
I want to begin with the fact that I prefer Fantasy over Science Fiction any day of the week. Give me dragons and fairies over robots and the infinity of space. However, the author skillfully blended the two genres in such a way that I think it needs to be its own separate genre. That said, anyone who may have misgivings for that reason, you ought to put them aside now.
The first thing that jumped out at me was the alternating POV, which can make or break a novel. In this case, it was a huge win, because it was an asset in character development, as well as a vehicle for generating suspense. The back and forth between Kori and Adria built anticipation while I tried to figure out how their worlds would end up colliding.
Once the young royals finally met, the story was action-packed with all the excitement I could hope for. Their relationship developed subtly and believably, and included the nuances of their best friends...along with plenty of humor. I will say that about two-thirds of the way through, I began to panic because I could not fathom how the story could fully play out in a single volume. But never fear, for those of you who are afraid of cliffhangers, you are safe!
Nonetheless, Kori and Adria's relationship is far from the major plot point of this story. I found myself mesmerized by Pagonian history and politics. In reality, I could happily enter the Shadowlands' library, and devour all the non-fiction volumes outlining the natural and societal evolution of the planet. In fact, I would be remiss to say that there is still so much unknown in about this world, that the author could continue to tell stories here. I cannot stress enough how unique the setting and characters were.
Overall, I adored this book. It hit all the important targets that I aim to enjoy when I read fiction: action, fantasy, unique world, and quirky relationships. I highly recommend this book, and cannot wait for everyone to be able to read it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.75 stars (Rounded Up)
"There are no gods but what we become."
"Is that how you picture yourself?" I pry, "A god?"
Adria laughs, mirthless. "If I'm the planet's last god, then we're all well and truly damned"
I absolutely adored this book. The cast of characters was so endearing, the magic/sci-fi system was so well developed, and the politics of the two different lands and their inner workings were just chef's kiss!
This is such a unique retelling of Hades and Persephone, not only because most I've seen are fantasy or contemporary romance, and this is sci-fi, but also because the events from the original were used in surprising, different ways. I also adored some of the easter eggs/references to Greek mythology, like the name of Kori's ship (Charon) and the pomegranate seeds. The way all the political conflicts were written kept me absolutely hooked, and the weaving together of the two storylines (political conflict and the romance) was just masterful.
The characters in this book have my whole entire heart. The two main characters each have well-developed families and histories that inform all their choices, and seeing them grow and learn from each other was beautiful. As for side characters, I will always be a sucker for an endearing weirdo (yes, Aspect, that's you) or a furbaby, so to have both of them? I was over the moon. I gave many a squeal or high-pitched "AWWW "s while reading, and that's how you know this found family is written right.
Overall, this book gave me all the feels and delivered an action-packed read, and I will be discussing with anyone who will listen
"There are no gods but what we become."
"Is that how you picture yourself?" I pry, "A god?"
Adria laughs, mirthless. "If I'm the planet's last god, then we're all well and truly damned"
I absolutely adored this book. The cast of characters was so endearing, the magic/sci-fi system was so well developed, and the politics of the two different lands and their inner workings were just chef's kiss!
This is such a unique retelling of Hades and Persephone, not only because most I've seen are fantasy or contemporary romance, and this is sci-fi, but also because the events from the original were used in surprising, different ways. I also adored some of the easter eggs/references to Greek mythology, like the name of Kori's ship (Charon) and the pomegranate seeds. The way all the political conflicts were written kept me absolutely hooked, and the weaving together of the two storylines (political conflict and the romance) was just masterful.
The characters in this book have my whole entire heart. The two main characters each have well-developed families and histories that inform all their choices, and seeing them grow and learn from each other was beautiful. As for side characters, I will always be a sucker for an endearing weirdo (yes, Aspect, that's you) or a furbaby, so to have both of them? I was over the moon. I gave many a squeal or high-pitched "AWWW "s while reading, and that's how you know this found family is written right.
Overall, this book gave me all the feels and delivered an action-packed read, and I will be discussing with anyone who will listen
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I can not emphasize enough how much I loved this book. The storytelling was marvelous, the moments of levity through despite the ever growing conflict through kept it from being completely dark and gloomy, and the romance at the center of the story was well developed and thought out.
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